Wire-stretcher.



N0. 658,759. Paten'ted Oct. 2, |900.

'A. C. CALHOUN.

WIRE STBETCHEB.

(Application 'tlled June 1B, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT C. CALHOUN, OF SOMERVILLE, TEXAS.

WIRE-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 658,7 59, dated October 2, 1900.

'Application iiled Tune 18,1900.

To all whom, it' nur/y concern/f v Be it known that I, ALBERT C. CALHOUN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Burleson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Wi-re-Stretchers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifica-tion.

My invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchers, and pertains to a tool which is particularly constructed for and adapted to be used as a Wire-stretcher, but is also adapted to be used for other purposes, all of which will be fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a top plan view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Figs. 3 and 4L are detail views.

Referring now to the drawings, A indicates a frame which is preferably (though not necessarily) rectangular in form, as here illustrated. Passing transversely through this frame A is a shaft B,which carries fast thereto a ratchet-wheel C. The end D ofthe shaft adjacent the ratchet-wheel projects through the side of the frame A and is adapted to receive a removable operating lever or handle E. A rope F is adapted to be wound around the shaft B and is prevented from slipping thereon by engagement with a spur G, and

preferably each end of the rope is provided with a hook H of the peculiar form here shown,

the slots in the hooks being adapted to embrace the fence-Wire at a point back of the barbs thereof and to cause the tightening of the wire when the rope is wound upon the shaft B when the machine is being used as a Wire-stretcher.

The lever or handle E has one end provided with an openingottoloosely receive the projectingend D of the shaft B,and this lever E carries a pawl I, adapted to engage the ratchet-Wheel' Ofor the purpose of rotating the ratchet-wheel and inA turn rotating the shaft B when the handle or lever E is vibrated, as is Well understood. The free end of the ratchet I is provided with a depending flange b, adapted 'Serial No. 20,744 (No model to rest at and overlap the inner side of the ratchet-Wheel O, and thus serve to hold the lower end of lthe handle or lever E in position upouthe .projecting end D ofthe shaft when it is being used for rotating the ratchet-Wheel and the shaft to which itis connected for the purpose of winding the rope thereon. The outer or free end of the lever or handle E is provided Witha hammer J and a cutting edge or hatchet K, the former adapted to be used for driving staples and thc latter for cutting barbs or knots out of the posts. By providing the handle With a hammer and a hatchet I avoid the necessity of carrying an extra hatchet in addition to the ordinary handle of a wire-stretcher, which is a great saving in trouble when carrying the machine around, avoiding the necessity of carrying a separate hatchet.

Projecting from the front end of the frame A isa bracket L, which has its outer surface M curved, as shown, and adapted to rest against the outer surface of around or square post. The engaging surface is provided with a spur P, adapted to enter the post under the tension of the tightening of the wires, which will prevent any slipping of the frame and also serve to hold the machine in position upon the post, as will be understood. The end d of the bracket L is provided witha concave surface e, which serves as a guide for the rope.

Projecting from the rear end of the frame A is a hook Q, having its free end R provided with jaws for the purpose of performing the function of drawing staples. When it is desired to draw staples, the frame A will serve as a handle, While the jaws R of the hook Q will serve to be passed under the wire and to straddle the staple for withdrawing it in the usual manner, the end piece d of the bracket Lin this instance serving as a handle and giving an enormous leverage.

When the machine is being used for stretching a fence or other Wire, one of the hooks H of the rope will be connected to the wire in the manner before stated and the shaft B rotated through the medium' of the handle E until the wire has receivedr the required tension, when the handle E is removed and the hammer thereof used for driving in a staple to hold the wire in its tightened position.

IOO

When the machine is used for drawing together the ends of a broken wire or for tightening a wire intermediate its ends, the two hooks H will be separately attached to the wire and the shaft rotated, which will draw the hooks in opposite directions until the ends of the broken wire are caused to overlap for the purpose of being twisted or hooked together or the Wire has received the sufcient tightening between its ends, and then so secured.

When the device is being used for lifting Wagon-beds from running-gears, the hook Q serves as an important function in raising one end of the wagon-bed. The hook Q is also useful in pulling fence-posts, stumps, or trees, and, in fact, many other purposes, all of which I will not attempt to name, but will say in this connection that it is useful for hanging up hogs or beeves.

The device, as will be readily understood, is adapted to be used to lift any heavy object, to tighten awire or other similar object, and in all connections of a similar nature.

- For the purpose of holding the shaft B against backward rotation under the tension on the rope I provide a pawl S, which is pivoted to the inner side of the frame A and adapted to engage with the ratchet-wheel C.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to lsecure by Letters Patent, is-

A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a shaft journaled therein, the shaft carrying a. ratchet-wheel fast thereto, one end of the shaft projecting through the frame, ahandle having an opening loosely receiving the shaft, a pawl projecting from the handle and engaging the said ratchet, the pawl having a depending flange engaging the opposite side of the ratchet from the said handle for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT C. CALHOUN.

Vitnesses:

W. T. DUNLOP, J. I. IsBELL. 

